The Spear of Destiny (8 page)

  “And he made it home?”

  “Back to his castle in Bavaria. We don’t know where he is now. The range rover’s were found abandoned at St Katherine docks. The fake spear was left in the boot of one of them.”

  “There are a couple of things I don’t understand. First if Von Werner stole the real spear what did he want with the fake one?”

  “Mr Dennis are you aware of the legend of the spear’s healing powers?”

  “Yes I wrote an article on it.”

  “We can assume that Von Werner has attempted to heal himself using the spear’s powers and that it didn’t work. That is probably why he has stolen the fake one. Upon close inspection he will have realised the London spear was a fake. It is said that the spear only contains healing powers where our saviour Jesus Christ spilled his blood.”

  “You mean where he was crucified.”

  “Or anywhere he has spilled his blood or healed the sick. There are many legends in the bible. He travelled for most of his adult life.”

  “So it could work anywhere if it works at all.”

  “That’s correct Mr Dennis.”

  “I need to swot up on the bible.”

  “You said there were a couple of things you didn’t understand. What was the other matter?”

  “What exactly does all this have to do with me?”

                                 CHAPTER FIVE

Peter Dennis rang Natalie’s phone again for the umpteenth time. She was just entering his pin number on the chip and pin device when she suddenly realised her phone was vibrating in her handbag. She saw the caller was Dennis.

  “Hello,” she said, putting the phone between her shoulder and ear to keep her hands free.

  “Babe where are you?”

  “I’m still shopping in Harrods. I’ve bought some great shoes and some really nice lingerie I just know you’re going to love.”

  “That’s great babe. Listen. Sorry. I know you’re excited but something has come up. Something you’re not gonna believe. How long is Jim in London?”

  “He leaves on Saturday.”

  “Is there somewhere we can meet him? How about his hotel?”

  “If he’s there. He’s giving a talk tonight at a gallery in Chelsea. Why? What’s all this about?”

  “Look can you get hold of him and arrange to meet him. Tell him he really doesn’t want to miss this.”

  “Why don’t you ring him.”

  “I’ve tried and besides I’m not sure how safe it is. My phone may have been hacked.”

  “Hacked!”

  “From what I’ve heard today. Listen I’ll explain when I see you. Get Jim. We need to meet somewhere to talk. All of us. A quiet bar somewhere if not his hotel. Okay.”

  “There’s a winebar not far from me. I’ll get Jim to meet us there.”

  “I know the place. I’ll see you as soon as I can get there.”

Forty five minutes later Peter Dennis burst through the front door of the pub. Natalie and Jim Hutchinson were standing at the bar waiting for him. He kissed Natalie briefly on the lips, then shook the American’s hand.

  “What are you having to drink? It’s my shout,” Hutchinson said.

  “Budweiser please,” Dennis answered to the girl behind the bar.

  “Make that three,” Hutchinson said placing a twenty pound note on the bar. Dennis waited until the three bottles of beer had been handed out and Hutchinson had received his change before saying.

  “Let’s sit in that booth at the back. It’s a bit quieter.”

The men waited for Natalie to sit and as Hutchinson sat Dennis threw himself into his seat and puffing up his cheeks he blew his breath out.

  “You won’t believe the day I’ve just had.”

  “I guess by the urgency you’re about to tell us.”

Dennis looked at Natalie long and hard, not sure of where to start. Then he began.

  “I now know who was behind Friday night. Who stole the spear.”

Hutchinson leaned closer.

  “Who?”

Dennis looked straight into Natalie’s eyes.

  “Von Werner.”

  “What?” Hutchinson said.

Dennis nodded.

  “It’s true.”

  “But we saw Tunisian marines pull his dead body from the sea.”

  “Well he clearly wasn’t dead.”

Dennis saw the concerned look from his girlfriend.

  “It’s all right. He won’t be coming after us. He’s got what he wants. He’s long gone.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Trust me.”

He reached out to grasp her hand.

  “How do you know all this Pete?”

  “That man in the brown suit,” he said to Natalie, “He’s an Austrian police inspector from Interpol. He came into the office,” he continued for Hutchinson’s benefit, “he had a photograph of Von Werner from CCTV. Von Werner was sitting in the front range rover on Friday night. His face is badly disfigured but there was no mistaking it. It’s definitely him.”

  Natalie felt herself shudder.

  “It’s all right. He’s gone.”

  “So my best guess then,” from Hutchinson, “is that he’s heard of the mystery surrounding the spear of Longinus and that’s why he’s stolen it. He intends to use it.”

  “This is where it gets interesting. The spear from London is a fake. A replica.”

  “What?”

  “That’s right Jim. The Austrians had the real one locked away in a vault. They use replicas just in case of an incident like this.”

  “So Von Werner has a fake.”

  “Not exactly. The London one was abandoned. The real one he stole a month ago. He killed to get it.”

  “Then if he has the real one why did he take the one from the British museum?”

  “Inspector Bauer, that’s his name, the Austrian inspector, Thomas Bauer. He thinks Von Werner has tried to heal himself with the real one but failed. You see it only works where it is said that Christ himself spilt his own blood.“

  “So that means where he was crucified right! Which if memory serves me has the church of the holy sepulchre built over it. How is he going to get to the ground underneath it?”

  “It doesn’t necessarily mean there. Anywhere where Christ bled. It could be where he was whipped by the Romans. We need to read up on our bibles, search the internet etcetera.”

  “What do you mean we?”

  “Bauer has asked for my, our help.”

  “To do what?”

  “To locate where Von Werner will attempt to use the spear next.”

Dennis looked across at Natalie.

  “You’re not saying much.”

Natalie didn’t know what to say. She half shrugged.

  “Peter I’m an archaeologist not a treasure hunter.”

  “I know Nat but Bauer believes we might be the best people for the job.”

  “And last time we came face to face with Von Werner he was going to kill us.”

  “I don’t think he would have.”

  “He watched while his Russian thug tried to kill you, would have raped me. Von werner was going to kill us and make it look like it was self defence. Have you forgotten all this?”

  People in the next booth were now looking their way. Dennis leaned in to the middle of the table.

  “We’d better keep our conversation down a bit.”

  “What I still don’t get is what’s in it for us?” Hutchinson said.

  “First we’d be helping an international police team catch a known felon. A felon we all know and second? We’d be following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. One of the most famous men who ever lived.”

  “I meant financially.”

  “Oh I see. Look we don’t know how big this thing is going to be. First there will be a reward of one million euro’s for the safe return of the real spear and the apprehension of the guilty party or parties responsible.”

  Dennis saw their looks of concern.

  “Bauer has assured me the reward will be there.”

  “Is he going to provide us with guns?”

  “Guns?”

  “Last time we encountered Von Werner he had a private army that was considerably armed or did you assume he’s just going to let us waltz in and take it back from him. Look Pete it’s a lovely idea but I don’t see what we can do to help. I’m certainly not putting any of my team at risk again.”

  “What are the risks?” Natalie asked.

  “Forget it!” Hutchinson said.

  “We’ll have the full backing from Interpol that anything we do will not result in our being arrested or convicted plus Bauer will assist in any way possible. He already has the Israeli police on full alert in case of anything happening there.”

  “It’s too big,” the American said, “it’s out of our league Pete.”

Dennis sat back in his seat.

  “Okay,” he took a swig of his beer and put it down on the table gently, “I’m in.”

  “What?”

  “I’m helping them.”

  “Pete I think it’s too dangerous. Natalie talk some sense in to him.”

  “To follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ babe,” Dennis said with a gleam in his eye,” just think of the untold treasures we could uncover. The very tomb he lay in. Magical. Mystical. Powers from a Roman spear used by some of the most powerful men and women in history.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “No Jim he’s right. It would be amazing to hold the very spear that pierced Christ’s side in your very own hands.”

  “Oh don’t tell me you’re hooked too.”

Natalie smiled at her boss who rolled his eyes.

  “Jim?” Dennis said.

Hutchinson picked his beer up and downed it. He banged the bottle back down onto the table.

  “Well it appears you two have made up your minds. A million euro’s eh? I must admit we could do with the money.”

Natalie and Dennis were in his studio apartment where they had been since they’d got back that afternoon. It was nearly eleven o’clock and both were very tired and on strong coffee. They were expecting Hutchinson back soon. He had text messaged Natalie to say that his talk had finished and as soon as he could leave he would. At that time of night the taxi journey would take less than thirty minutes. His message had been received over an hour before.

  Dennis and Natalie had arrived back armed with every book they could buy or borrow from the nearest library with any reference to Jesus Christ in the index. Both having quickly showered they’d settled down to study. Both had a laptop each and had searched every link and pop up possible.

Dennis was flicking through piles of mail and paper on his table in the lounge. 

  “Darling have you seen that menu for the Chinese takeaway. I’m sure it was here the other day. You can’t mistake it. It’s got a large golden dragon on the front.”

  “I think I pinned it under a fridge magnet on the side of the fridge.”

  “It’s not here.”

Natalie came into the kitchen drying her hair with a towel.

  “Right what did I say?”

He stopped searching to look at her.

  “I said on the side didn’t I.”

  “Oh yeah. Got it,” he said reaching for the wall mounted phone, “What do you fancy?”

  “You’re not ordering without Jim are you. Do you not want to wait.”

  “I’m not sure what time they stop delivering.”

  “Why don’t we just order one of those meals for three. At least that way we’ll get a mixture. I don’t even know if Jim likes Chinese.”

  “Everyone likes Chinese.”

She went into the lounge and sat on the sofa whilst still drying her hair. Then she stopped.

  “Oh my God.”

He turned with the phone pressed to his ear. She held a book up for him to see.

  “You bought a bible.”

  “Yeah we’ll need it.”

  “You bought a bible!”

  “Yes. If we’re researching Jesus Christ it seemed like the perfect answer.”

  “I suppose,” she said, “but you can be the one who reads it.”

Dennis ignored her as the phone the other end was answered.

  “Chinese will be half an hour,” he said rejoining her in the lounge, “Okay so where do we start?”

  She grabbed the first book from the pile.

  “Anything on Jesus Christ. Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Needle in a haystack.”

  “We’ll need to define our searches. The internet will help.”

  “Okay. So what should I look for? Seriously.”

  “Von Werner has been gravely injured. The burns to his face, neck and hands are extensive….”

  Natalie remembered back to that day standing on the ‘wavecrest’ ship when she saw Von Werner’s body brought back on board. She could still remember the blistered flesh. It still made her feel sick.

  “If he is intending to use the spear to heal himself we need to work out what he will do next. The legend of the spear states that whoever holds it will be invincible. I think we should start with the history of whoever has owned the spear. If anyone in history or legend has had any kind of miracle or anything unusual happen to them whilst the holy lance has been in their possession. What do you think? Is that a good place to start?”

  “I don’t know. I guess so. You’re the archaeologist.”

Dennis quickly tapped in the holy lance on google. The third link on the first page included images.

  “That’s our piece,” he said. He clicked on the top link which was Wikipedia and began to read.

  “Anything?” Natalie asked after seeing his intense concentration.

  “No it’s pretty much everything I’ve already written about it in the magazine. There’s a blue link here for St Maurice but it’s something I’ve already read before and something about the town in Switzerland named after him. Nothing new I’m afraid.”

  “Why don’t you try Jesus Christ.”

He entered the name in the search box and clicked on the top link. Wikipedia again.   

  “What am I looking for?”

  “Is there anything about his travels?”

Dennis checked the box of headings on the left.

  “A little.”

  “What about his acts?”

  “Acts?”

  “You know, his miracles.”

  “Oh.”

Dennis re-entered his search.

  “Ah! Here we are. The supernatural deeds of Jesus Christ….”

There was a buzz from the kitchen.

  “That’s either Jim or the take away.”

  “I’ll go,” Natalie said.

She resumed her seat, empty handed.

  “Now the miracles of Christ,” Dennis continued as if she hadn’t left, “Are put into four categories. We have exorcisms, cures, controlling nature and resurrecting the dead.”